Studies in First Thessalonians, Video preaching

Events at Christ’s return

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17

Sermon notes 

A SIMPLE STATEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN’S EXPERIENCE OF THE DAY OF CHRIST’S RETURN.

  1. Exclusive, v17. The reference here is exclusively to the redeemed. Cp 1 Cor 15:22-23. The living righteous and the righteous dead are all who are in view. The experience of every Christian, dead or alive, is described here. This does not describe the experience of the wicked, 2 Thess 1:8, Romans 6-11. While there are many simultaneous events happening at this very moment in time, this passage focuses exclusively on the experience of the righteous.
  2. The Lord Himself descends with a shout. The Saviour Himself will appear again. Cp Acts 1:11, Matt 25:31, Rev 14:14. His return will an event marked by great noise and sound—not secret or silent! Cp Matt 16:27, 24:27, 1 Cor 15:52, Rev 10:3—imagery of Christ’s return. This is the shout of triumphant power over His enemies. Cp Joel 3:16. This is when the Saviour conquers His enemies and the earth becomes His footstool. Cp Ps 2:1-5, 2 Thess 2:8, Rev 19:15.
  3. The dead in Christ rise. They are resurrected from the dead and glorified. There is an order to be observed here: first. The Christian dead who accompany Christ from Heaven (Jude 1:14, Rev 19:14) are given priority in this action. Here is the act of glorification, 1 Cor 15:51, 1 John 3:2. There is a double ‘first’ to be considered in relation to this event. Cp Rev 20:4-6. The dead saints rise before the wicked; and they rise in advance of the ‘rapture’ of the all glorified righteous.
  4. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. Together, all the redeemed now glorified ascend heavenward to meet the Saviour. Cp Matt 25:6. The word used here simply indicates being seized/taken by an act of choice. The resurrection of the saints is presented in this way throughout Scripture. Cp Ps 73:24. This catching up is often termed a ‘rapture’ – a word which preserves the idea of snatching away. The controversy with this term relates to the timing of this event. There are two simple features of this passage that determine very clearly the timing of this event: the visible return of Christ; and the resurrection of the righteous dead.
  5. The beginning of an eternal experience with the Saviour, v17. Things will be forever different for the Christian from this point forward. At this point the 1000 year reign of Christ on earth begins. Cp Rev 20:4-6. These words do not preclude this! The saints who have died have already begun their eternal experience of Christ’s presence but still must experience the resurrection and anticipate their reign on earth, Rev 5:10. When a Christian dies they will never again be out of Christ’s presence—but what changes and events still lie in store for them.

IV  THE COMFORT THESE TRUTHS BRING.

  1. Knowledge is the means of comfort for the Christian. The contrast in the passage is with the sorrow occasioned by ignorance. Cp 2Thess 2:2.
  2. What God has revealed is to be used by saints to comfort one another. There is a mutual encouragement and exhortation to labour in view here. Each is to stir another to diligent and faithful service in light of the events that lie ahead. The hope of the Christian is an encouraging one even when his immediate lot is not! The duties Paul has underscored in this chapter, v4, 9 are reinforced by a consideration of Christ’s coming.

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